In a written submission made to the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC) has put important questions to Pakistan about its education system, specifically the problematic Single National Curriculum (SNC). The declaration, which does so meticulously, documents systemic problems that infringe on the principles of religious freedom and inclusive education and highlights the impacts of the existing educational policies.
The organization’s thorough analysis is backed by solid research and statistical data on deeply worrying trends in Pakistan’s education system. The Pakistan Education Statistics Report 2021-2022 indicates that 73% of educational institutions are public schools, and 14% are religious schools (madrassahs). This is a cause for concern because the SNC was introduced in August 2021 and has, since then, been criticized by educationists and human rights activists as exclusive and heavily oriented towards the Islam religion, to the exclusion of other religions.
Some findings from the report include:
- Religio us themes cut across other areas of knowledge, as much as 7.7% of the mathematics, social studies, science and other textbooks are infused with Muslim religious ideas.
- At the primary level, only 0.27% of the non-religious textbooks refer to other religions than Islam.
- The issue of gender is still not well addressed as 60% of the textbook images have males only while 39% have females.
- All the female characters are shown in conventional roles, with a headscarf and in home-based functions.
The statement notes several examples of violations that demonstrate the systemic problems, including the public disownership of the theory of evolution by a college professor in Pakistan, who was forced to do so by Islamic clerics. This case shows the extent of intellectual persecution and religious conformity in the academic institutions.
Of particular interest at the international level is the investment that the European Union is making in Pakistan’s education system. The report shows that the EU spent between €100 million and €150 million between 2016 and 2024 on educational programs, and this raises questions as to whether these investments were made in conformity with the fundamental human rights standards.
CAP LC’s recommendations to the United Nations are clear:
- Request the Pakistani government to align the Single National Curriculum with the international human rights standards.
- Provide adequate measures to safeguard educators against extremist attacks.
- Seek to prosecute those who engage in intellectual terrorism and hate crimes.
The written statement is a significant contribution that shows that there is a need to address the issues of gender and religious equality in education and the need to promote science education.
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